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THE NATURE OF GOD AND CHRISTDoctrinal Study PaperThe only angels that are called by name in the Bible are the archangels Michael, Gabrieland Lucifer (who rebelled and became Satan). Moreover, this Messenger—this one who is calledGod—has the power to pardon sin. Such power was never vested in angels.Someone might argue that the angel of reference is Michael since the literal meaning ofthe Hebrew name, Miyka’el, means “who is like God.” But Miyka’el is not a primary name ofGod and there is no clear evidence that the name Miyka’el is used for God in any place in theBible. But there is a place in Scripture that equates the Angel, Malak, who spoke to Moses out ofthe burning bush with YHWH. “And the Angel of the LORD [YHWH] appeared to him in a flameof fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, butthe bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I will now turn aside and see this great sight, whythe bush does not burn. So when the LORD [YHWH] saw that he turned aside to look, God calledto him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then Hesaid, ‘Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you standis holy ground.’ Moreover, He said, ‘I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the Godof Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God[Elohim]” (Exodus 3:3-6).In verse 2, the Angel (Malak) appears to Moses in the burning bush, and then in verse 4,it is YHWH who calls to Moses out of the midst of the burning bush. YHWH commands him topull off his shoes because the ground is holy. Holy things have God’s active presence in them.Thus God was present. One could argue that an angel got Moses’ attention and then suddenlyYHWH appeared on the scene. Was God playing hide and seek with Moses? Was He playingname games with Moses? It is clear that the Messenger (Malak) and YHWH are one and the samebeing.One of the best-known messianic prophecies verifies the fact that Malak and Adonai canrefer to Jesus Christ. “‘Behold, I send My messenger [malak—John the Baptist], and he willprepare the way before Me. And the Lord [Adon—Jesus Christ], whom you seek will suddenlycome to His temple, even the Messenger [Malak—Jesus Christ] of the covenant, in whom youdelight. Behold, He is coming, says the LORD [YHWH] of hosts [God the Father]” (Malachi 3:1).The first messenger is John the Baptist, “As it is written in the Prophets: ‘Behold, I sendMy messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You’” (Mark 1:2). TheMessenger (Malak) of the covenant is Jesus Christ. Christ came and became the sacrificial Lamb,the New Covenant Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Lord (Adon) is Jesus Christ, as verified byChrist when (quoting from Psalm 110:1) He asked the Pharisees, if David called Adonai (orAdon) Lord, then whose Son is He? The answer, of course, is the Son of God, Jesus Christ(Matthew 22:41-45). Jesus came to the physical temple and cleansed it. He founded the NewCovenant Church. There is no question that He is the Malak (Messenger) of the covenant. So, itis possible that Malak can refer to the one who became Jesus Christ.On the other hand, angels are created beings. They were created through the Word, theone who became Jesus Christ. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgivenessof sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all thingsPage 16September 2005© 2005 United Church of God, an International Association
THE NATURE OF GOD AND CHRISTDoctrinal Study Paperwere created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones ordominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And Heis before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:14-17). Under the inspiration ofthe Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul makes it clear that forgiveness of sin is through Jesus Christ andthat the one who became Christ created the angelic realm. No angel was ever given the power toforgive sin. Thus the Angel (Hebrew, Malak) in this and many other passages is none other thanJesus Christ.Angels were never promised sonship, neither are they heirs of God. “For to which of theangels did He ever say, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You?’ And again: ‘I will be toHim a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son’?” (Hebrews 1:5). The answer is, God neverpromised any of the angels that His name would be in them and that they would be heirs of Godand joint heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17). Angels were created, they were not born into thefamily of God. They are created beings that are sent forth as ministering spirits to the heirs ofsalvation (Hebrews 1:14). Note carefully that angels are sent to the heirs of salvation; they arenot themselves heirs of salvation. Moreover, it is not possible for angels to become heirs on thesame plane of existence as God since they are created beings. But believers are recipients of thedivine nature, the very essence of God (2 Peter 1:4).Stephen in his inspired sermon, as recorded in Acts 7, asserts that an Angel [Greek,Angelos, Messenger] spoke to Moses from Mount Sinai and with the fathers: “This is that Moseswho said to the children of Israel, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like mefrom your brethren. Him you shall hear.’ This is he who was in the congregation in thewilderness with the Angel [Angelos, Messenger] who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with ourfathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, whom our fathers would not obey,but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt” (Acts 7:37-39).Note carefully that Stephen equates the Angel who spoke to Moses with the one whospoke the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai. Stephen’s equating of the Angel (Angelos,Messenger) who spoke the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel from Mount Sinai isverified by Moses: “And God [Elohim] spoke all these words, saying: ‘I am the LORD [YHWH]your God [Elohim], who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage’”(Exodus 20:1-2). These verses clearly reveal that the one who thundered the TenCommandments is the same Angel (Greek Angelos, Messenger) that Stephen refers to in Acts7:37-39. And that Messenger is none other than the one who became Jesus Christ. The point ofStephen’s discourse is that the Prophet who was prophesied to come was none other than JesusChrist (Acts 7:52-53).Who Was Married to Israel?Who was married to Israel? Was it God the Father or was it the one who became JesusChrist? If the one who was married to Israel was the one who became Jesus Christ, then thepreexistence of Christ is irrefutable. According to Jewish tradition, Israel entered into the OldCovenant/marriage covenant at Sinai on the day of Pentecost in the third month of their journeyPage 17September 2005© 2005 United Church of God, an International Association
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